Antipanic lock-operating mechanism



Maren 17.1925. 1,529,865A

W. B. BOLL- ES ANTIPANIC LOCK OPERATING MEGHANISM Filed Deo. 31. 192s @Het mm; 5

Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UITED STATES WILLIAM B. BOLLES, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ANTIPANIC LUCK-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed December 31, 1923.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM B. BoLLns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lilisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Antipanic Lock-Operating Mechanism, of which the following` is a full, clear, and exact dcscription.

This invention relates to anti-panic lock operating mechanisms such as used in connection with doors, more particularly exit doors from theatres, halls, schools and other public buildings;

The present invention is an improvement over the lock actuating mechanisms disclosed in my prior Patents 1,383,973 and 1,388,974, granted July 5, 1921. and the mechanism disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 572,178, tiled July l, 1922.

[tis sometimes desirable in order to prevent unnecessary strains and wear upon the lock mechanism and lock operating mechanism that the door locks at times be rendered entirely inoperative so that the doors may swing freely.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide means associated with the operating mechanism by which the operating mechanism may be positively held in a position in which the locks are released. n applying the casing of the lock actuating mechanism to a door the casings are not always placed in exactly the same position. ln order to compensate for such variations, the stop device employed in accordance with tliepresent invention to securethe lock oper.- ating mechanism in its lock releasing position is made adjustable so that regardless of variations in the positioning of the mechai nism upon the door, the stop device may be adjusted to a proper position for securing the lock in inoperative position.

A further object of the invention `is to provide a cushioning device for the actuating lever of the door operating mechanism for cushioning the movement of the lever in either direction to prevent injury to the lever and to the parts of the lock and to prevent injury to the stop when the lever is nioved in a direction to move the lock actuating member against the stop.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise vthe device in its various modifications as illus- Serial No. 683,537.

trated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with'such variations and modifications thereof aswill be apparent to one skilled y'in ,the art to which the invention appertains.

Reference should be Vhad to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification in which Fig. l is an elevation showing a door Aequipped with Alocking bolts and operating 'mechanism' for the saine; Fig. '2 is an eleva-tion of the mecha; nism by which t-he'bolts are operated Fig. 3 is a side elevation with ipo'rtionsiin section of the construction shown in Fig. A`2; Fig. e is a side elevation with parts Vbroken away and shown in section of a. lmodiliid form oi the invention in which the lockl actuating mechanism is shown Aapplied to a mortised door lock; Fig. 5 is a vertical section in a plane parallel with the I,door through the casing of a modiliedform of actuator for operating bolts carried by the door and co-operating with detention devices in the floor and upper stop of the door casing; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view showing the upper end of the upper locking bolt in the modification shown in Fig. 5. Referring to the drawings, l indicates ,a door, 2 and 3 indicate locking bolts forthe door which cooperate with suitable detention devices carried in the door fra-me ,and by the floor adjacent t-he bottom of thedoor Either formed integrally with these latches or secured thereto, are rods l and 5. These rods are secured to sliding members 6 and 7 which are guided for vertical movement within the casing 8 which is secured to the inner face of the door asindicated in Fig. l. The slide 7 is provided with an extension 7a at its upper end and the slide 6 is provided with a recess or socket porti-on 6a in which the extension 7a fits. The recess 6a contains a compression coil spring 9 and the extension 7" engages with the lower end of the spring so that when theslides 6vand 7 are moved toward each other, the spring is placed under compression, which compression serves to restore the'inembers 6 and 7 to their normal position when the pressure which holds the spring 9 compressed is released. y

For the purpose of joining the slides ,6 and 7 so thatthey may be moved simultaneously in opposite directions, I employ 'a pivoted lever l0 which is' pivoted at its center to the casing and is providedvat its ends with upstanding pins 11 and 12. The members 6 have an extension 6b which is provided with a pin 6c, this extension being preferably provided with a part 6d which engages with a wall of the casing 8 so that as the member 6 and the part 6b and 6d are moved the bearing of the portion 6d will serve to take a part of any thrust and assist in guiding the members 6 and 7 in a linear direction. i

A link 13 is connected with the pins 6 and 11 for transmitting movement from the` with a pin 7d of the slide 7. Upon theY casing there is pivoted a lever 15 which is provided with a rearwardly extending portion 15a which Vextends into the casing to actuate the slides. Above the lever there is a portion Yot the casing indicated at 22 which serves as a guard for the pivot of the lever 15 so as to prevent the hand or clothing of the operator from becoming caught behind the lever. The extension 152L of the lever extends into and occupies an opening 7f which is formed in the member 7, the member 15a normally engaging with the top portion of said opening.

Below the opening 71' the member 7 is provided with a recess 7g, mortised out, into which an extension 13a at the lower end of the link 13 extends. The lower end of the link 13 is preferably provided with a roller 18 to provide a rolling contact on the wall of the casing 8 and to provide a backing for the lower end of the link 13.

Vith the members or" the mechanism arranged as just described, it the operating lever 15 be raised the part 15a thereof isY depressed, which moves the projection 13Zt downwardly in the recess 7 g, in turn carrying the link 13 d-ownwardly which com'-` municates its motion to the slide 6, causing the same to be moved into the casing. The downward movement of the link 13 causes the lever 10 to tilt thereby moving the link 14 upwardly which in turn causes the slide 7 to move into the casing. It the operating lever 15 be depressed, the part UrL of the lever engages the top of the'opening 7 f,jra.is ing the slide 7. The slide 7 carries with it the linkV 14 causing the lever 10 to rock about its pivot moving the link 13 downwardly thus pulling` the slide 6 downwardly into the casing. Vhenever thel lever is-released, theV spring 9 will act to move the slides outwardly from the casing to move the bolts to locking position.

The mechanism so tar described is old and well known, being disclosed in my atent No. 1,383,973 above referred to. The present invention consists in the provision of a stop device co-acting with one ot the slides and adjustable to limit the movement oit the slides in the direction in which they are urged by the spring 9 so that by adjusting `the stop device, the lock bolts may be retained in any position desired against move ment toward locking position. To this end the slide 7 is provide-d within the casing 8 adjacent the bottom thereoi:l with a lateral projection 7h which is adapted to engage with the upper end of a set screw 19 which is in threaded engagement with an opening in the lower end ot the casing. The lever 15 may beactuated in either directionto release the lock bolts and while the slides are held in lock releasing position the set screw 19 may be readily adjusted by hand into engagement with the unde-rside of the projection 7h to positively retain the bolts in retracted position. When the lock operate ing mechanism is so held by the set screw 19, the lever 15 will swing downwardly against the side of the door and when actuated will not act upon the slide to exert thrust upon the stop member since the pro-l jection 13EL will be spaced sufficiently from the top or the opening 7 f to allow the lever to swing freely. The operation o the lever in either direction, however, would be to further retract the latch bolts and not to exert thrust against the stop member.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, the invention is shown applied to an actuator for a mortised door lock 2O which is provided with the usual latch 21 and latch operating trip 22, exposed at the bottom edge of the latch casing. The lock actuator is in the form of a casing 23 secured to a side tace of the door below the lock casing. lVithin the casing 23 there is a vertically movable slide 24 which has a projection 25 at its upper end which cooperates with the trip 22 to release the latch. The slide 24 is pressed downwardly in the casing by a compression spring 26 seated in a recess in the slide and acting between the slide and the top casing. The slide is actuated by means of a` lever 27 pivoted to the casing and having a projection 27a extending into a slot 24a in jthe slide. Engaging the top of the projection 27 a is a cushion block 23 which is slidable in the slot 24a and is pressed into engagement with the top of the projection 2"a by means of a compression spring 29 mounted in the slot and acting between the cushion'block 2Sand the top of the slot. The projection 27 a is normally held against the bottom ot the slot 24L by means of the compression spring 29. For securing the slide 24 in its lock vreleasing position, the casing 23 is extended at its lower end to provide space for a. vertically disposed set screw 3Q which engages the lower end of the slide.

'llO

masses By adjusting the set .screw `30 the slide 23 may be positively held with the projection 25 thereof in engagement with the trip 22 to hold the latch 2l in retracted position.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, there is shown a modied form of the invention in which both the upper and lower locking bolts are moved to releasing position by movementin an upward direction. In this moditication there is a. casing 31 similar to the casing 23 in Fig. 4 in which there is mounted a slide 32 which has upper and lower slotted portions 32a and 32b connected by a narrower slot in which is positioned the projection 27 i* of a lever similar to the lever 27 shown in Fig. 4. The ,slide 32 has bolts 33 and 34 connected to its upper and lower ends, the bolt 33 coacting with the top of the door casing and the bolt 34 coacting with a stop device in the iloor. Between the upper end ot' the slide 32 and the top of the casing there is a coil spring 35 which acts to force `the slide in a downward direction to move the .bolts into locking position. In this modification the actuating lever is cushioned in both directions. In the slot 32a there is mounted a cushioning block 36 which is held kin engagement with the .top of the projection 27L by means of a compression spring 37 and in the upper end of the slot 32b there is a cushion block 38 which is held in engagement with the bottom of the projection 27n by means of a compression spring 39. The blocks 36 and 38 are normally held seated against the lower and upper ends of the slots 32a and 32h, the length ot the narrow slot between the slots 32a and 321 being just suflicient to accommodate the projection V27a of the lever, thus when pressure is Aexerted upon the leve-r in either direction, this pressure is transmitted to the slide through a cushioning spring which prevents shocks and excessive pressures upon both the lever and the parts ot the lock. The upper bolt 33 is designed to move to locking position in a downward direction so that the door is locked at the top and bottom by moving the slid-e in one direction. To this end the bolt 33 is provided with an inwardly projecting hoo-k 40 at its upper end which when the door is closed enters a slot 4l in an angle lock plate 42 secured to the top member ot' the door casing. When the lock bolt 33 is moved downwardly the hook 4l engages with the plate 42 beneath the slot to lock the door against opening movement. To provide means for retaining the lock bolts in retracted position, the casing 3l is extended at its lower end to provide space for a vertical set screw 43 adapted to be adjusted into engagement with the lower end of the slide 32 when the same is held in lock releasing position. The lower cushioning device engaging the bottom ot the projection 27 a of the lever serves to cushion the thrust of the lever against the slide in a .downward direction against :the end-ot' theset screw 43 so that both the lever and .the set screw are vprotected kagainst injury which might occur upon Vio-lent actuation of the actuating lever. The V,screw 43 may be, as shown in'F'ig. Y5, in the form .ot' a threaded plug with a socket in its outer end adapted to be engaged by a small .socket Wrench or key. This form of set screw has lthe advantage that unauthorized persons cannot readily tamper with the stop device.

Having described my invent-ion, I claim l. A lock actuating device lcomprising ,a casing, a lock operating slide movable in the casing, a lever pivoted to the Vcasing and having a part cooperating with the slide :to shift the same in a direction to release the lock, and an adjustable stop `member interposed between the casing and Slide land adapted to limit the movement of the slide from its lock releasing position.

2. A lock actuating device comprising a casing, a slide movably mounted inithe casing and adapted when moved Vin one direction to release the lock, an actuating means carried by the casing and ladapted when operated to shift the slide toward lock releasing position, and a stop member interposed between the casing and slide and adjustable in the direction ot' movement of the slide to limit the movement of the slide.

.3. A lock actuating device comprising a casing, a slide movably mounted in the casing and adapted when moved in one vdirection to release the lock, `actuating means tor shitting the slide, and a set screw disposed longitudinally of the slide and interposed between the casing and slide to limit the movement of the slide.

4. A lock actuating device comprising va casing, a lock operating slide movable inthe casing, a spring acting on' the slide to shift the same in one direction, a manually operable lever adapted to shift the slide in opposition to the spring, and a set screw disposed longitudinally of the slide and adapted to be adjusted to hold the slide in lock releasing position.

5. In a door lock releasing device, a casing secured to a side face of the door, a vertically movable lock actuating slide in said casing, an actuating lever for the slide carried by the casing, and a vertically disposed set screw at the lower end ot the casing and interposed between the casing and slide andV adjustable to hold the slide against movement in one direction from any of its positions within the casing.

6. The combination with a door lock having a boltl carried by the door and engageable with the door casing,ko lock actuator comprising a casing secured to a side face ot' the door and having a slide therein yoperatively connected to the bolt, an actuating lever carried by the casing and adapted to actuate the slide, a spring acting on the slide for .moving the same in one direction and a set screw carried by the casing and adjustable into engagement with the slide to hold the same in lock releasing position in opposition to the spring.

T. The combination with a double boli,

door lock in which bolts carried by the door are movable into engagement with the door casing at the top and bottom of the door, of lock operating means comprising a spring actuator actingto yieldingly press thebolts toward locking position and a manually operable actuating device comprising a slide having a connection with the bolts and through which the spring acts,

means for manually operating the slide inr opposition to the spring to release the lock,

and a Set screw adjustable in the direction A4of movement of the slide and interposed bef "ing a casing, a slide in the casing adapted to release the loclQ-a normally operable actuator for the slide, cushioning means interposed between the actuator and slide, :al spring acting on the slide in a direction to move the same away from lock releasing position, and a stop member interposed between the slide and casing, said stop member being adjustable longitudinally with respect to the slide and adapted to limit the movement of the slide away from lock releasing position.

9. A lock 'operating mechanism comprising a casing, a lock actuating slide in said casing, a spring acting on the slide to move the same in one direction, a lever carried by the casing and having a part .adapted to actuate the slide, and cushioning means interposed between the lever and slide through which the lever acts upon the slide when moved in either direction.

10. A lock actuating-mechanism comprising a casing, a lock actuating slide in said casing, yan actuating lever pivoted to the casing and having aA part projecting into the exert pressure through the slide upon the n stop member, and cushioning means interposed bet-ween the lever rand stop member to `prevent transmission of excessive pressures from the lever to the stop member.

l2. A lock actuating mechanism comprising a casing, a lock actuating slide in the casing, a stop member adjustable longitudinally of the slide and coacting with the slide and casing to limit the movement of the.

slide in one direction, a lever pivoted to the casing and having a part co-acting with the slide to shift the same in either direc'- tion, and a spring cushion carried by the slide in position to be engaged by said part of the lever when the lever is moved in a Vdirection to move the slide in the directionk in which its movement is limited by the stop. In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM B. BoLLitsn 

